Attachment for cotton lappers



y E. MILLS ATTACHMENT FOR COTTON LAPPERS Filed Jan. 22, 1927 5 Sheets-$heet 1 A TTORNEY.

I NN 1 U E. MILLS ATTACHMENT FOR COITTON LAPPERS :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1927 5 INVENTOR.

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1 27. 9 E. MILLS '.ATTACHKEI IT FOR COTTON LAPPBRS a" Sheets- Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 22, 1927 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented May 17, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD MILLS. or wmrmsvmnn, massacnusnrrs, assrenon T0 wnnrm MA- cnmn wonxs, or WHITINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSA- CHUSETTS.

ATTACHMENT FOR COTTON LAPPERS.

Application and January 22, 1927. Serial No. 162,907.

This invention relates to improvements in machines which form their production into laps for use in suliisequent processes. Prior to the date of my invention it was necessary in machines of this kind for the operator toimpart motion by hand or foot t'o'a lever tdblilig theoperative gears 1nt o mesh to resume the lapping process after it \va'sinterrupted for the'removal of a previously formed lap.

The object of myinvention is toprov de automatic means for bringing the operative gears into mesh thus facilitating the movements of theoperator in his duties about the machine.

A preferred form ofmy invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings 1n which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lapping machineshowing my invent-ion attached thereto.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of a fragmentary part of a lapping machine showing the relation of the various parts of my invention when a full lap has been removed and a new one ready to he started.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure2 showing the relation ofthe parts of my art-- tachmcnts while the lap is being formed.

Figure 4 is an end view of the'full-lap knock-off motion. v

Figure 5 is an end elevation of a lapping machine showing in connection with Figure 1 the gearing for imparting motion to the rotative member of my attachment.

Referring to the drawings 10 designates the sides of a lapping machine such as usually used for forming laps from fibre delivered by a picking machine, 11 and 12 are lap winding rolls which effect the winding of the lap 13 on its pin 14. The lap winding rolls have a slow continuous rotary motion derived through a train of gears from the usual cross shaft, 15. of the picking machines 16 a fragmentary portion of which is shown in Figure 1. A drop-lever 17 fulcrumed at 1.8 supports a bearing of the dropshaft 19 which Is continuously rotated by the gearing from the shaft 15. By this construction when the drop-lever is in its elevated position the lap starting operative pinion 20 fixed to the dropshaftmeshes with the gear 21 driving the calender roll 22 and thus the sheet of librc is delivered to the lap winding rolls. A depression of the drop-lever disengages the driving means of the calender roll and thus the delivery of the fibre ceases. A trip-lever 23 has a shoulder 24 adapted to engage the drop-lever and holds it in its elevated position with the operative gears in mesh. hen the lap becomes full the knock-off motion awl 25 suitably rotated from the calendiir roll pushes the trip-lever 23 out of engagement withthe drop-arm 17 which thendrops by gravity thus disengaging the pinion 20 from its mcshing relation with the calendar roll gear with the result of stopping further delivery of the calender roll.

The trip-lever 23 and drop-lever 17 are each provided with a handle whereby they may be manually actuated if occasion requires before the lap becomes full and ready for removal.

All of. the above is descriptive of a lapping machine lap starting mechanism of ordinary construction and as such is not claimedas my invention except in combination of certain novel features whereby the starting of a new lap is automatically accomplished.

Inv accordance with the present invention when the lap has attained its full diameter the knock-oil pawl 25 pushes the trip-lever over so that the drop arm 1.7 falls and thus disengages the operative gearing; the operator then pulls out the lap pin 14 and lays it in holders, one of which 38 isfixed to the frame ofthe machine and the other is on the "upper end of the weighted lever 26 swingable on a fulcrum 27 fixed to the machine frame. The lower end of the lever 26 coacts with a lug 28 on the inner end of the member 29 slidahly and swingably mounted on a shaft 30 in a fixed relation with the machine frame. The outer end of the member 29 is provided with a cam shaped memher 31 adapted to cooperate with the dropwhereby the rotary movement of the disk causes the roll to act with much force on the leverage of the finger 32 thus causing the cam 81 to swing upward against the underside of the drop-arm sufticiently high to bring the drop shaft pinion 20 into mesh iwith the calender roll gear 21 and thus starts the formation of a new lap.

The amount of the swinging movements of the members 26 and 29 are controlled by adjustable abutting screws 35 and 36 respectively.

In operation while the lap is being wound the position of various members of my invention are as shown in Figure 3, the finger 32 being clear of the path of its actuating roll 38 and the drop-arn'l in its highest position with the operative gearing in mesh. When the knock-oft. motion indicates that the lap is full by releasing the drop-arm and thus stopping the delivery of the calender roll, the operator pulls the lap pin from the lap and lays the pin on the holding lever, the Weight of the empty pin being suflicient to cause the holder lever 26 to swing on its fulcrum and by suitable connections slides the actuating finger 82 into the path of the roll 33 whereby the drop-arm is slowly raised until the operative gearing mesh, the time taken to do this being sufiicient for allowing the operator to take the lappin from its holders and place in proper position on the lap winding rolls for the formation of a new lap. After the empty lap pin is taken from its holders the various members resume their normal positions due to the influence of the counter balancing weight 37' acting on the holder lever 26.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a drop-lever, a fulcrum on which said lever is swingable, a driving pinion supported by said lever, a calender roll, adriven gear attached to the calender roll and adapted to mesh with the driving pinion, a trip-lever coacting with the drop-lever normally maintaining the operative gears in mesh, means when the lap is full for automatically releasing the triplever thus disengaging the operative gearing and means whereby said drop-lever is automatically aised thus bringing the openative gears again into engagement.

2. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a drop-lever, :1 fulcrum on which said lever is swingablc, a driving pinion supported by said lever, a calender roll, a driven gear attached to the calender roll and adapted to mesh with the driving pinion, a trip-lever coacting with the droplever normally maintaining the operative gears in mesh, means for automatically releasing the trip-lever when a lap is full thus disengaging the operative gearing, a pair of lap winding rolls, a pin on which the lap is wound, and automatic means actuated by the weight of an empty lap pin to eli'ect the lifting of the drop-lever thus bringing the operative gearing again into engagement.

3. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a drop-le\"er, a l'ulcrnni on which said lever is swingable, a driving pinion supported by id lev Jr, a calender roll, a driven gear fixed to the calender roll and adapted to mesh with the driving pinion, a trip'lever coacting with the droplever normally maintaining the operative gears in mesh, means for aulon'iatieally rcleasing the trip-lever when a lap is full thus disengaging the operative gcarings, a pair of lap winding rolls, a pin on which the lap is wound, a lever supporting one end of an empty lap pin and swingabl y actuated by the weight of said lap pin, a fulcrum for said lever fixed to the machine frame, counterbalancing means for said lever, a sliding member swingably mounted on a sha ft in a fixed relation to the machine 'l'rame, coacting connections between said leve' and the sliding member, a cam member fixed to said sliding member and adapted to coact with the underside of the drop-lever to raise the same, an upright finger in a fixed relation with said sliding member, and a roll eccentrically connected to the journal and adapt ed to coat-t with said finger to actuate said cam thus automati ally bringins the operative gearing again into engagement.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

EDWARD MILLS. 

